Proverbs 23
1 If you sit to sup at the table of a prince, consider attentively the things set before you:
quando sederis ut comedas cum principe diligenter adtende quae posita sunt ante faciem tuam
2 and apply your hand, knowing that it behoves you to prepare such [meats]: but if you are very insatiable,
et statue cultrum in gutture tuo si tamen habes in potestate animam tuam
3 desire not his provisions; for these belong to a false life.
ne desideres de cibis eius in quo est panis mendacii
4 If you are poor, measure not yourself with a rich man; but refrain yourself in your wisdom.
noli laborare ut diteris sed prudentiae tuae pone modum
5 If you should fix your eye upon him, he will disappear; for wings like an eagle's are prepared for him, and he returns to the house of his master.
ne erigas oculos tuos ad opes quas habere non potes quia facient sibi pinnas quasi aquilae et avolabunt in caelum
6 Sup not with an envious man, neither desire you his meats:
ne comedas cum homine invido et ne desideres cibos eius
7 so he eats and drinks as if any one should swallow a hair, and do not bring him in to yourself, nor eat your morsel with him:
quoniam in similitudinem arioli et coniectoris aestimat quod ignorat comede et bibe dicet tibi et mens eius non est tecum
8 for he will vomit it up, and spoil your fair words.
cibos quos comederas evomes et perdes pulchros sermones tuos
9 Say nothing in the ears of a fool, lest at any time he sneer at your wise words.
in auribus insipientium ne loquaris quia despicient doctrinam eloquii tui
10 Remove not the ancient landmarks; and enter not upon the possession of the fatherless:
ne adtingas terminos parvulorum et agrum pupillorum ne introeas
11 for the Lord is their redeemer; he is mighty, and will plead their cause with you.
propinquus enim eorum Fortis est et ipse iudicabit contra te causam illorum
12 Apply your heart to instruction, and prepare your ears for words of discretion.
ingrediatur ad doctrinam cor tuum et aures tuae ad verba scientiae
13 Refrain not from chastening a child; for if you beat him with the rod, he shall not die.
noli subtrahere a puero disciplinam si enim percusseris eum virga non morietur
tu virga percuties eum et animam eius de inferno liberabis (Sheol h7585)
15 Son, if your heart be wise, you shall also gladden my heart;
fili mi si sapiens fuerit animus tuus gaudebit tecum cor meum
16 and your lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right.
et exultabunt renes mei cum locuta fuerint rectum labia tua
17 Let not your heart envy sinners: but be you in the fear of the Lord all the day.
non aemuletur cor tuum peccatores sed in timore Domini esto tota die
18 For if you should keep these things, you shall have posterity; and your hope shall not be removed.
quia habebis spem in novissimo et praestolatio tua non auferetur
19 Hear, [my] son, and be wise, and rightly direct the thoughts of your heart.
audi fili mi et esto sapiens et dirige in via animum tuum
20 Be not a wine-bibber, neither continue long at feasts, and purchases of flesh:
noli esse in conviviis potatorum nec in comesationibus eorum qui carnes ad vescendum conferunt
21 for every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor; and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and ragged garments.
quia vacantes potibus et dantes symbola consumentur et vestietur pannis dormitatio
22 Listen, [my] son, to your father which begot you, and despise not [your mother] because she is grown old.
audi patrem tuum qui genuit te et ne contemnas cum senuerit mater tua
veritatem eme et noli vendere sapientiam et doctrinam et intellegentiam
24 A righteous father brings up [his children] well; and his soul rejoices over a wise son.
exultat gaudio pater iusti qui sapientem genuit laetabitur in eo
25 Let your father and your mother rejoice over you, and let her that bore you be glad.
gaudeat pater tuus et mater tua et exultet quae genuit te
26 [My] son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
praebe fili mi cor tuum mihi et oculi tui vias meas custodiant
27 For a strange house is a vessel full of holes; and a strange well is narrow.
fovea enim profunda est meretrix et puteus angustus aliena
28 For such a one shall perish suddenly; and every transgressor shall be cut off.
insidiatur in via quasi latro et quos incautos viderit interficit
29 Who [has] woe? who trouble? who [has] quarrels? and who vexations and disputes? who [has] bruises without a cause? whose eyes are livid?
cui vae cuius patri vae cui rixae cui foveae cui sine causa vulnera cui suffusio oculorum
30 Are not those of them that stay long at wine? [are] not [those] of them that haunt [the places] where banquets are? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with just men, and converse [with them] openly.
nonne his qui morantur in vino et student calicibus epotandis
31 For if you should set your eyes on bowls and cups, you shall afterwards go more naked than a pestle.
ne intuearis vinum quando flavescit cum splenduerit in vitro color eius ingreditur blande
32 But at last [such a one] stretches himself out as one struck by a serpent, and venom is diffused through him as by a horned serpent.
sed in novissimo mordebit ut coluber et sicut regulus venena diffundet
33 Whenever your eyes shall behold a strange woman, then your mouth shall speak perverse things.
oculi tui videbunt extraneas et cor tuum loquetur perversa
34 And you shall lie as in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot in a great storm.
et eris sicut dormiens in medio mari et quasi sopitus gubernator amisso clavo
35 And you shall say, They struck me, and I was not pained; and they mocked me, and I knew it not: when will it be morning, that I may go and seek those with whom I may go in company?
et dices verberaverunt me sed non dolui traxerunt me et ego non sensi quando evigilabo et rursum vina repperiam
